domingo, 30 de abril de 2017

You wouldn’t think so, but jazz guitar and bass duets are surprisingly rare in recorded jazz, especially considering how common they are on stage. John Stein and Dave Zinno’s Wood and Strings shines an intimate light on the simple joys of collaboration. The duo brings with it two lifetimes of musical experience and the awesome ability to explore, find, and cultivate personal and musical ground together. If there is an essential quality to this collection, it’s that Stein, through his compositions, arrangements, and performances, has created the environment in which he and Zinno can play in the moment while creating something of timeless beauty. As the Whaling City Sound label’s newest worthwhile collection, Wood and Strings could not be recommended more highly.

The TERNION QUARTET plays music that is energetic and fun. Like fireworks; the music offers a tremendous display of colors and moods. Rooted in the tradition of jazz, swing and improvisation, the compositions give ample room for the virtuosic improvisers to express their creative personality; and with the experience, maturity and flexibility of the musicians the music can change direction on the fly and is constantly new, fresh and renewed again. Compositionally the music is based on a linear and horizontal concept, allowing the individual instruments' melodies to conduct the harmonic map, whenever that is desired. The aim is for the full emotional spectrum of being human to be expressed by these outstanding musicians and improvisers.

Originally the meaning of 'round trip' was to return to the starting point via a different road. When I wrote the tune 'Round Trip', it was about a deep and heartfelt wish I had- to return to my two sons, who I had left in another country for a few days. As this album and this music came about, 'round trip' then became a key idea for the album. Round trip, in the sense of coming home, describes the feeling I have every time I play with this group. It refers to the many (round) trips we have taken together over the years, but also how much we have grown as a band, musicians and persons, and how we, no matter where each one of us is placed in the world, get together to make music and share our experiences.

Even on a personal level I see the many round trips in our journey through life and music. So without further a due: Take a *Round Trip' with us.